Dental floss holder



July 21, 1931. J. K. JORDAN DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed March 29, 1929v I N V EN TOR. dlllnesfilfartlan BY 2 I:

v gamma 5 Patented July 21, 1931 UNE'EEQ STTES PATENT OFFECE JAMES K. JORDAN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Application filed March 29, 1829. Serial No. 350,930.

The invention relates to a hand implement holder constructed in accordance with the for use in removing substances from between invention. the teeth, and more especially to a dental floss Figure 2 is an edge elevation. holder. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a length The primary object of the invention is the of dental floss detached from the holder. no

provision of a holder of this character, Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary verwherein a length of dental floss can be contical sectional view through the arms of the veniently held under tension, so that it can holder. I be inserted with dispatch between teeth ad- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modiw jacent to each other, so as to remove any subfied form of holder constructed in accordance o0 stances or foreign matter accumulated therewith the invention. between, the length of floss being firmly held Similar reference characters indicate corwithout liability of detachment thereof from responding parts throughout the several the holder or possible slipping of said floss viewsof the drawings. I

during the use thereof. 7 Referring to the drawings in detail, par- Another object of the invention is the proticularly Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the holder vision of a holder of this character, wherein comprises a frame A, including ahandle porthe construction thereof is novel in form, so tion 10, of the required length and can be of as to permit the application of a length of any special design or configuration to suit the floss thereto and its removal therefrom with fancy of the manufacturer or user. This han- 7 case and dispatch. dle portion 10 from its outer free end toward A further object of the invention is the the inner end thereof is preferably tapered provision of a holder of this character, whereand said inner end merges into a fork B, havin the end of a length of floss is anchored in ing outwardly curved opposed resilient tines the engaging arms of the holder in a novel or arms 11, which also taper toward their free manner, so that said ends will not interfere ends. in the use of the holder when the length of Each tine or arm at its free end is slitted floss is brought into action for the removal to provide a bifurcation 12, which extends n or dislodging of materials about proximal foradistance and is disposed entirely through surfaces of the teeth, the holder being of a said free end transversely to intersect the rind to assure easy use of the floss and to space between the tines or arms. facilitate the insertion of said dental floss Each tine or arm 11, at its outer edge 13, between the teeth for cleaning purposes. near the free end thereof is provided with a W A still further object of the invention is notch or recess 14, into which the bifurcathe provision of a holder of this character, tion 1n tersects or merges, and this notch or whi ch is extremely simple in construction, recess 13 of a1 51% a Shape to accommodate thoroughly reliable and efiicient in its pura knot formed 111 a length of dental flosg poses strong durable, and inexpensive to 16, the stretch of the latter between the lrnots 4o manufacturu 15, formed therein at both ends being slight- WVith these and other objects in view the 1 less than the dlstance between the invention consists in the features of construc- 3 3 31 P5 t a the tion, combination and arrangement of parts Same 18 as 0 a ac Hug me ental floss thereto. As stated these arms or tines as will be hereinafter more fully described, are resilient and after the knots 15,1mVbeen V llhtstl'ated 111 the accompanymg drawmgs formed in the len th of floss 16 the said arms which show the preferred embodlments of are Compressed as t i ld: t d h the invent-ion, and pointed out in the claim th d th t t h f fl b t th hereunto appended. knots 15, is inserted through the slits 12 in In the accompanying drawings: the free ends of the tines or arms 11, so that 100 Figure 1 IS an elevation of a dental floss when the latter are released the knots 15, will automatically engage in and be seated within the recesses or notches 14, in said tines or arms. Thus the length of floss 16, will be held under tension while the knots will be maintained securely anchored in the recesses or notches 14, in the tines or arms 11, of the holder.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification of the dental floss holder, wherein the fork C, thereof is of arch formation, and its arms 17, at their free ends are provided with lateral extensions or ears 18, these being slitted at 19, and in their outer faces are notches or recesses 20, with which the slits 18, intersect or merge, the recesses or notches being provided to accommodate the knots heretofore described in the length of dental floss. This holder has inserted therein the floss 16, in'an identical manner to the insertion thereof in the holder A, hereinbefore described.

That is claimed is:

The combination with a length of dental floss having knotsspaced from each other, of a holder forming a fork having resilient tines outwardly bulged with their free ends converging, each end having a straight bifurcation opening through the same and a socket merging into the inner end of said bifurcation and located at the outer side of said tine removed from its extremity, whereby the knots will become seated in the sockets when the floss has been inserted in the bifurcations and tensioned in bridging relation to the fork.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES K. JORDAN. 

